Tape lifter for hand tape moisteners



April 17, 1934. 1 F PORT-ER 1,955,090

TAPE LIFTER FOR HANDv TAPE MOISTENERS Filed July 24, 1930 F161. 37 1 58 2'/ 3 '7 .1111 1"" `ll` Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES TAPE LIFTER FOR HAND TAPE MOISTENERS James F. Porter, New York, N. Y., assigner to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of vNew York Application July`24,` 41930, Serial No. 470,424

9 Claims. v(C1. S31-14.5)

This invention relates to a device for meistening a gummed strip of paper for application to a backing sheet and particularly for moistening and applying to a telegraph message blank, the gummed tape received from a telegraph printer.

In one form of printing telegraph system commonly employed the message is automatically printed upon a narrow gummed tape as it passes through the printing machine, the tape passing directly from the machine to a hand tape moistener through which it is drawn during application to the telegram blank. In some systems a combination keyboard transmitter and printer are employed to alternately transmit and receive messages, the operator during the receiving interval applying the gummed tape to the telegram blanks. During short interruptions in the continuous application of the tape to the blank, as for instance during transmitting intervals, the gummed surface of the tape, unless the tape is removed from the moistener, becomes softened by continued contact with the Wick of the moistener, the gum being dissolved and absorbed into the wick.` The gummed surface is thus destroyed and the wick contaminated. The removal ofthe tape from the moistener during frequent and short interruptions in the use thereof is undesirable since considerable time is consumed in reloading or threading the tape through the moistener.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a tape moistener in which the tape may be quickly and easily removed from contact with the wick without removal from the moistener when the moistener is not in use.

Another object is to produce means which is simple and readily operated for lifting and`holding the tape from contact with the'rnoistening wick, and when desired, for again restoring the tape into contact with the wick. s

Other objects an'dadvantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In accordance with my invention I provide a tape moistener comprising a hollow cylindrical Water receptacle having a moistening device secured thereto through which the tape passes. The tape is normally held in contact with the wick of the moistener by a pressure foot carried by a pivoted lever provided with a thumb piece by which the pressure foot may be elevated from contact with the tape. A latch is arranged to move into engagement with the leverwhen it is elevated to hold the same in such position, the movement of the latch actuating a tape lifting member to raise the tape out of contact with' the wick. A trip is provided for the latch, also actuated by a thumb lever. The removal of the tape Vfrom the wick is effected by depressing one of the thumb levers and the tape is restored into contact with the wick by depressing the other thumb lever.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tape moistening device in the normal position of operation;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the tape elevated out of contact with the wick;

Figure 3 is a side elevation viewed from the opposite side from Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a'vertical sectional view showing the tape lifting mechanism, on the line 4;-4. of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

' Figure 6 'is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7 of Figure 3. s

Referring to Figure l the device is shown as comprising a hollow cylindrical body 10 forming a water recep-tacle and of a suitable size to be grasped in the hand of the operator. A removable screw cap 1l serves as a means of replenishing the water supply of the receptacleA The cap 1l has a forwardly extended wick support orv channel l2 through which a wick 13.eX- tends, one end of the wick being immersed in the water within the receptacle and the opposite end being exposed in a grooved portion 14, at the outer end of the channel 12. This exposed end oi the wick is in contact with the gummed side of the tape when the moistener is in use as will presently4 appear.

The tape l5 is held in contact with the wick by a pressure foot 16 carried by lever 1'1 rivoted at i8 and provided with a thumb member 19. The tape extends across a plate 20, beneath the pressure foot 16, thence across the wick 13 and beneath a guide 2l in the form of a loop of wire carried by the lever 17.

VThe tape lifter comprises a bail 22 disposed beneath the tape and having a U-shaped extension 23 provided with a horizontal armV 24 pivoted in lugs 25, mounted on the top of the channel l2. A latch 26 rigidly secured to the horizcmtalv arm 24 is urged by a spring 27 towards an upward position. It is normally held depressed, however, by the lever 17 under the action of a spring 28.

A cutting member 29, pivoted at 30 to the side of an extension 3l, of the channel 12, is operated by a thumb lever 32 pivoted at 33 and havinga pin and slot connection 34 with a rearward .extension of the cutting member. vThe cutting member is normally held open with respect to the plate i7 in the position shown in Figure 3 by a spring 35 surrounding a pin 36 and acting upon the lever 32. A right-angled member 37 carried by the cutting member extends back of the latch 26 and Serves to trip the same, as will appear from the following description of the operation of the device.

As stated before, during normal operation of the moistener the tape extends over the plate 17, beneath the pressure foot 16, which is lowered into contact with the plate 20, thence vover the tape lifter 22, wick 13 and beneath the guide member 21. VJhen it is desired .to remove the tape from contact with the wick the thumb lever 19 is depressed, rocking the lever 17 land raising the pressure foot 16 and the guide 21 above lthe Wick 13, thus permitting the latch 26, under the action of its spring 27, to rotate to bring its sharpened end into a notch 38 in the lower' side of the lever 17, thereby locking the lever inits elevated .position .and at the same time raising the tape lifter 22, thus removing .the tapeifrom Contact with the'wiclr, as yshown in Figure `5.

When it is desired to again restore the tape into contact with the wick, the thumb lever 132 is depressed slightly to move the trip member -36 against the latch v26 to force the same from the notch 38, whereupon the spring I28 again rocks the lever 17 to lower the pressure foot 16 and guide 18 and to force the latch`26 downward, thus loweringthe tape lifter 22. The movement or" the thumb lever 32 required to 4trip the ylatch is very slight and insucient to bring '.the'cutting member 29 into cutting relation vvi'ththe plate 20. If it is vdesired to eut the tape, the thumb lever 32 is fully depressed as will be apparent.

It is to be understood that numerous changes and modications may be made in the construction of the device without departing from the essential attributes of the inventionand therefore I do not desire to be limited to the exact details shown and described, except in accordance with the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a tape moistener, a water receptacle, .a moistening member carried thereby, means normally holding the tape in contact with saidvmoistening member, manual means for raising the tape out of contact with said moistening member, and positively acting means for holding said tape out of contact therewith against the action of said rst means when said manual means is released.

2. In a hand tape moistener, a water receptacle adapted to be grasped in the hand, a moistening member carried thereby, means normally holding thetape in Contact with saidmoistening member, means for raising and holdingthe tape out of contact with said moisteningvmember, and means for releasing said holding means to restore the tape into contact with the moistening member.

3. In a hand tape moistener, a water receptacle adapted to be grasped in the hand, a moistening member carried thereby, means normally holding the tape in contact with the moistening member, means adapted to be actuated rby the hand while grasping the receptacle for elevating said tape out of contact with said moistening device, means for holding the tape elevated vand means also .adapted to be actuated Vby the .hand while grasping the receptacle forireleasing said holding means, to restore `the tape into .contact with the moistening member.

4. In a hand tape moistener a water receptacle adapted to be held in the hand, a moistening wick carried thereby, means for holding tape in contact with said wick, means for raising and holding said tape out of contact with said wick, a tape severing device and means acting upon the operation of the severing device for restoring the `tape into contact with the moistening Wick.

5. A hand tape moistener comprising a water reservoir', a moistening wick extending forwardly from said reservoir, a support for said wick, means for holdingv a tape in contact with said Wick Aand guiding the tape thereacross, means operablev to raise said tape from contact With the Wick while maintaining the relationship of the tape with respect to the holding and guiding means,` means yfor holding said raising means in operated position and means comprising a thumb lever, operable by the hand while grasping the reservoir, for releasing said holding means whereby to restore the tape into contact with the wick.

6. A Atape moistener comprising a water reser- Voir, a moistening wick, means for holding a tape in contact with said wick and guiding the same thereacross, arlever for raising said holding and guiding means above the wick, a latch engaging said lever to hold the same in position to maintain the holding and guiding means elevated above the wick, and a trip device for said latch.

'7. A hand tape moistener comprising a water reservoiria moistening wick, means for holding a tape in contact with said wick and guiding the same thereacross, a thumb lever for raising said holding and guidingmeans above the wick, means -for maintaining the relationship of the tape with respect to the guiding and holding means during such operation, whereby the tape is removed from contact with the wick, a latch engaging said lever to hold the same in position to maintain the tape elevated above the Wick, a tape severing device, a second thumb lever for operating the severing device and a trip carried by said severing device adapted to release the latch upon the initial movementof the thumb lever, to return the tape into contact with the Wick.

8. A hand tape moistener comprising a water reservoir, a moistening wick, means for holding a tape in contact with said wick and guiding the saine thereacross, a thumb lever for raising said holding and guiding means above the wick, means serving toelevate the tape from contact with the wick upon upward movement of said lever, a latch engaging said lever to hold the same in position to enable the tape to be maintained out of contact with the wick, a trip device for said latch and a second thumb lever for actuating said 'trip device.

9.'A hand tape moistener comprising a Water reservoir adapted to be held in the hand, a moistening member carried thereby, means for holding a tape in contact with said member and guiding it thereacross, a thumb lever adapted to be actuated by the hand while grasping the reservoir for raising said holding and guiding means above the moistening member, a tape lifting means operable on movement of said lever to raisethe tape from contact with the moistening member, a latch engaging said lever for retaining the holding, guiding and tape lifting means elevated, :atrip .member for said latch and a second :thumb lever for actuating said trip member .to restore the vtape into contact with-'the moistening member.

,JAMES F. PORTER. 

